This week's Hotline includes the following articles:

• President’s Column: Welcome to new staff and those in new roles
• Football selling discount cards starting today
• Learn ‘All About Numbers’ on Sept. 11
• Russi serves as dialect coach for ‘Noises Off’
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every week during the school year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President’s Column: Welcome to new staff and those in new roles

In addition to the new faculty I introduced in my previous column, we also have more than two dozen staff members who have joined us in the past academic year or moved to new roles on campus. Although they’re not typically in the classroom, these individuals often have much direct contact with students, and regardless of their responsibilities, they contribute greatly to making a VCSU education what it is for our students and their families.

Joining the staff this summer in time for the start of the school year are the following 11 individuals who assume a variety of roles, from coaching to Enrollment Services to Facilities and more.

• Taylor Balkan, interim assistant volleyball coach
  
• Janell Burkhart, athletic trainer intern
  
• Jacob Frey, admissions specialist
  
• Christopher Glaser, building services
  
• Sarah Larsen, collaborative pianist (Music Department) and administrative assistant (Career Services)
  
• Barbara Mattson, associate head softball coach
  
• Mark Mattson, head softball coach
  
• P.J. Peterson, assistant football coach and graduate assistant
  
• Cassandra Preston, office coordinator (Facilities Services) and payroll specialist (Payroll)
  
• Kayla Sorby, graphic designer
  
• Dustin Yorek, building security

It should be noted that Taylor, Jacob, Sarah, P.J. and Cassandra are all VCSU alumni. Darien Moore, who also attended VCSU, will join us in mid-November as assistant track and field throw coach.

Other staff members recognized formally at Welcome Week include the following seven individuals who joined us during the last academic year. They also participated in our group orientation sessions this August. This group includes:

• Kelsie Carter, mental health counselor (formerly admissions specialist)
  
• Debra Dramstad, IT support specialist
  
• Erin Heide, admissions counselor
  
• Chasity Lovell, administrative assistant, Graduate Studies
  
• Anthony Wendel, academic systems administrator
  
• Kelly Tabor, maintenance and grounds
  
• Meghan McCulloch, student records specialist, Registrar’s Office

Another member of this group is me, Al LaFave; I began my service to VCSU in mid-December. Note that in this group Debra, Anthony and Meghan are VCSU graduates.

We also have six individuals who have moved to new roles; some of these folks began their work in their new positions during the last academic year; others have just begun their new jobs recently. These include:

• Kari Bodine, interim head golf coach and assistant sports information director/athletic marketing (formerly Career Services coordinator)
  
• Kerry Gregoryk, director for institutional effectiveness and planning (formerly interim director, Academic Assessment and Institutional Research)
  
• Carolyn Holen, web content specialist (formerly administrative assistant, Science Department)
  
• Kaleen Peterson, director, Student Academic Services (formerly assistant director, Enrollment Services)
  
• Oscar Suniga, admissions counselor (formerly administrative assistant, Enrollment Services)
  
• Betty Tykwinski, director for health and wellness (formerly interim director, Student Academic Services)

In this group, Oscar is the VCSU alumnus.

Not counting me, that’s 25 people in new staff roles here at VCSU. Each of them plays a key part in providing our students with the coaching, services, technology and facilities needed to succeed here in Valley City, and I’m proud to join them on the VCSU team.

Go Vikings!

Football selling discount cards starting today

The Viking football team will again be selling the Viking “Gold Cards” beginning today, Monday, Sept. 9. The blitz night, where all players will be out selling cards in the community, is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Using the card pays for itself in short order. Cards offer multiple use discounts at 17 different Valley City businesses. The card also has some single use purchases with over $50 in discounts.

These discount cards can be purchased from any football player for $20. If you would like a card and have not been contacted by a player, please contact Coach PJ Peterson (paul.lenard.peterson@vcsu.edu), and he will have a player stop by to see you.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and patience as multiple players may ask if you are interested in purchasing a card. — Coach McCulloch

Learn ‘All About Numbers’ on Sept. 11

Joe Jangula will present “All About Numbers,” a 45-minute presentation involving math tricks, in Rhoades 102 on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m.

Cass‎-‎Clay Creamery in Fargo‎ is sponsoring the presentation by Jangula, a retired farmer from Marion, N.D. The event is open to the public free of charge, and participants who volunteer during the session may win prizes.

You can read about a similar presentation Jangula gave at Jamestown High School last spring at www.jamestownsun.com/news/4613612-math-tricks-joe-jangula.

Russi serves as dialect coach for ‘Noises Off’

Jenni Lou Russi, associate professor and chair of the Communication Arts Department, served as dialect coach for the British farce “Noises Off” at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, running through Sept. 14. Russi has worked as a teacher and production coach in dialects for several plays set in various regions in the U.S. and abroad.

Viking sports update

Football
Saturday: Northwestern College 47, Valley City State 7
The Viking football team is now 1-1 this season after suffering a road loss Saturday to No. 11-ranked Northwestern College. VCSU is back on the road Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at the University of Minnesota-Morris.

Volleyball
Tuesday: VCSU 3, Trinity Bible 0
Friday: VCSU 3, Haskell Indian Nations 0; Ottawa 3, VCSU 2
Saturday: VCSU 3, Baker University 0; Bethany College 3, VCSU 0
The Viking volleyball team posted a 3-2 record this past week, including a 2-2 mark at the Baker Invite in Baldwin City, Kan. The Vikings are now 3-6 overall and host Concordia-Moorhead on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Cross Country
Angeline Gannon placed 11th and Kirsten Ranke finished 12th to lead the Viking cross country team at their season opener Saturday in Rapid City, S.D. To view complete results, visit www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3492.

Golf
Jocelyn Braunberger tied for first place and the VCSU golf team had four individuals with Top 3 finishes Wednesday as the Vikings opened their season with a dual at Dickinson State University. To view complete results, visit www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3485.

Upcoming Events
Sept. 10: Volleyball vs. Concordia-Moorhead, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11: Baseball @ University of Jamestown, 6 p.m.
Sept. 13: Volleyball @ NDSCS Invite, 4 p.m. (Wahpeton, N.D.)
Sept. 14: Volleyball @ NDSCS Invite, 11 a.m. (Wahpeton, N.D.)
Sept. 14: Golf @ M-State Invite, 12 p.m. (Fergus Falls, Minn.)
Sept. 14: Baseball @ Viterbo University, 1 p.m. (La Crosse, Wis.)
Sept. 14: Football @ Minnesota-Morris, 6 p.m. (Morris, Minn.)
Sept. 15: Baseball @ Viterbo University, 11 a.m. (La Crosse, Wis.)
Sept. 15: Softball vs. Williston State College, 11 a.m.

What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

Monday, Sept 9
Sept. 9 - Oct. 4 Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition
4–6 p.m. Farmers Market in former Shopko parking lot
5:30-6:40 p.m. Dinner in the Valley – farm to table supper

Tuesday, September 10
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VCSU Student Center
5:30 p.m. Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals, Our Saviors Lutheran Church
7 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Concordia College-Moorhead, Graichen Gymnasium

Wednesday, September 11
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Barnes County Wildlife Federation Meeting, Valley City Eagles Club
6 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D.

Thursday, September 12
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
4–6 p.m. Farmers Market in former Shopko parking lot
6:30 p.m. In Knots Crochet, VCBC Public Library

Friday, September 13
4 and 6 p.m. Viking volleyball @ ND State College of Science, Wahpeton, N.D.

Saturday, September 14
8 a.m. to noon Bluegrass Jam, Barnes County Museum
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Viking volleyball @ ND State College of Science, Wahpeton, N.D.
1 p.m. Viking baseball @ Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wis. (doubleheader)
6 p.m. Viking football @ University of Minnesota-Morris, Morris, Minn.

Sunday, September 15
11 a.m. Viking baseball @ Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wis.
11 a.m. Viking softball vs. Williston State College, VCSU softball complex
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Meatball & Lefsa Dinner, Waldheim Lutheran Church rural Kathryn

Monday, September 16
Viking golf @ UJ Fall Invite, Carrington, N.D.

Tuesday, September 17
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VCSU Student Center
Viking golf @ UJ Fall Invite, Carrington, N.D.

Wednesday, September 18
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
3:30 p.m. Viking baseball @ Mayville State University, Mayville, N.D.

Thursday, September 19
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room

Friday, September 20
7 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Waldorf University, Graichen Gymnasium

Saturday, September 21
Viking cross country @ St. Olaf Invitational, Northfield, Minn.
2 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Viterbo University, Graichen Gymnasium
4 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Presentation College, Charlie Brown Field (doubleheader)

Sunday, September 22
Viking golf @ Dickinson State Invite, Dickinson, N.D.
noon Viking softball @ University of Jamestown, UJ Scrimmage Day, Jamestown, N.D.
1:45 p.m. Viking softball vs. Minnesota State University-Moorhead, UJ Scrimmage Day, Jamestown, N.D.
3:30 p.m. Viking softball vs. University of Mary, UJ Scrimmage Day, Jamestown, N.D.

Go to www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.